Viscosimeter



J. N.- GOODIER VISCOSIMETER March 16, 1937.

3 Sheets-Sheet l I Filed May 25, 1936 VISGOSIMETER Filed May 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTDH.

March 16, 1937. J. N. GOODIER 2,074,175

' VISGOSIMETER Filed Ma 25,-1936 3,Sheets-Sheet s a -Mam INVENTUR.

Patenteii- Mar. 16, 1937 UN TED STATES PATENT orricr:

VISCOSIIWETER James Norman Goodier, Toronto, Ontario, Can

ada,.assignor to Ontario Research Foundation,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application May 25, 1930, Serial No. 81,639

' "'1':- Claims. 01. 265-11) This invention relatestoa viscosimeter' intended to be immersed in the liquid whose viscosity is to be tested, and my object is to provide a viscosimeter especially adapted. for successive 5 determinations of the viscosity of a liquid contained in a vessel and which is progressively changing in physicalicharacteristics. It is known 7 that vis'cosities can be determined by measuring the resistance to relative rotation of two con- 10 centric cylinders enclosing between them a thin V f i; annular film of the liquid but, as such devices are v at present constructed, it 'isjfound that no amount of agitation or the liquid in the-vessel will ensure ithefilm changing with, changesinthe char- 1 acte'ristics of the liquid in the vessel 'so that the iilm will atall times be truly representative of the liquid in the vessel." inventiontherefore 1 consists in, so con-- structing'a viscosirneter of the-aforesaid type that after a determination has been made the liquid surrounding theimmersed parts of the instrument isagitated and a fresh fllm'of liquid entrapped between the cylinders. j

The invention may be briefly-described as follows: Two concentric spaced cylinders, cones or other surfaces of revolution forming a stator and a rotor, are employed connected with a support 1 by, means of which they may be suspended in a tank containing the liquid to be tested. The space between the cylinders is open at both top and bottom and will vary widely in thickness for different liquids. For a patent leather daub a thickness of one-tenth of an inch has been found suitable. The inner cylinder is rotatably mounted while the outer is non-rotatable but is formed in'parts displaceable from and replaceable to their position of co-oper-ation with the inner cylinder while in the liquid to effect agitation of the liquid in which they are immersed and.to

.enclose a fresh film of liquid-on their return to 1 Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the parts 55 of the outer cy inde in open position;

' bars 4.

vnular with a cross bar 3 in whichthe lower end Fig. 6 a front elevation, partly broken away,

showing a modified arrangement of the outer I cylinder;

I Fig. 7 a front elevation, partly in section, of Q another modification of the outer cylinder; and

Fig. 8 a plan view, partly in section, of a third modification.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. I

Referring to the drawings, l, is a suspension beam which is preferably formed asa tube. One of the functions of this beam is to rest on the rim of a vat in which it is desired to suspend the working parts of aviscosimeter. The frame of the viscosimeter includes a top frame 2 and a bottom frame 3 connected by the connecting The bottom frame 3 is preferably anof the rotor spindle 5 has a thrust bearing. The

upper end of the rotor spindle 5 is joumalled in the top frame 2 and extends into the interior of" the hollow suspension beam l where it is'provided with a pulley l8 by means of which it may be rotated. The rotor 6 is preferably formed as a hollow closed cylinder and is suitably connected to the lower end of the spindle 5. l is the stator which is, in the form of.the invention shown in Figs. 1-5, formed in halves adapted to be moved to and from a position of co-operation with'the" rotor 6. While the spacing between the rotor and stator when they are in co-operative relationship may vary, a spacing of about one tenth of an inch will usually be found to be satisfactory for patent leather daub. Anyone skilled in the art can readily determine what spacing gives the best results for any particular purpose.

The parts of the stator are shown as connected to the depending arms 8 which are journalled on the rear connecting bar by means of the bearings 9 adjacent the top frame 2. The vertical position of these bearings is determined by the collar l0 secured to the rear connecting bar 4. The bearings are positioned, as shown, in order to keep them well above the surface of the liquid in which the working parts are to be immersed, thus avoiding gumming up of the bearings by the liquid. Adjacent the bottom frame 3 the halvesof the stator preferably merely rest against the said rear connecting bar 4 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings;

In order that the halves of the stator may be I moved to and from their eo-operative position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, rock arms I I are secured to the depending arms 8 near the top of the device. To these rock arms are connected the cables [2 and I3, the latter passing round the pulley 24 on the suspension beam. Both cords are carried along the suspension beam to the sliding handle l4 mounted on the beam. By operating this handle the halves of the stator may be readily swung to the position shown in Fig. 5. Springs I! tend to close the parts of the stator to the position shown in Fig. 4, these springs being connected at their opposite ends to the halves of the stator.

Instead of having the ends of the parts of the stator merely abut one another when the stator and rotor are in co-operative relationship, it is important that the inward movement of each half of the stator be limited by a stop which is fixed in its relationship to each half of the stator. To form such a stop I provide the fiat faces IS on the sides of the front connecting bar 4. These flat faces are engageable by the knife edges l6 secured to the ends of the halves of the stator.

Wrapped on the pulley l8 secured to the upper end of the spindle 5 is a cable .l9 which runs through the hollow suspension beam and passes over the pulley 2D journalled on the said beam. To the end of this cable is secured the weight 2l which serves through the medium of the cable to rotate the pulley and thus the rotor 6. A peep hole 22 is formed in the upper side of the beam through which the pulley may be observed and its rate of rotation noted.

The operation of the apparatus so far described is substantially as follows: The device is suspended with the rotor and stator immersed in the fluid whose viscosity is to be determined and which will usually be in a heated condition. The halves of the stator are then opened and closed a few times, thus agitating the surrounding fluid and finally taking into the space between the two parts a representative sample. The parts of the stator are then closed and the resistance to rotation measured in any suitable manner, as, for example, as referred to above, by noting the time taken to effect a given number of revolutions of the pulley 20.

The time required for this measurement is so short say, 30 seconds, that the viscosity thus measured is representative of the viscosity of the whole fluid at the time the measurement is begun or ended. For each repetition of the measurement to follow the progress of the changes in the liquid, the parts of the stator are opened and closed before each measurement. The complete operation, agitation and measurement lasts only about one minute, which permits accurate control of such rapid changes as occur, for instance, in the final stages of the preparation of daub in the patent leather industry.

In the form of the invention previously described, while the movements of the two parts of the stator is substantially radial, it is not rectilinear. It is possible, however, to so mount the parts of the stator that their movement will be rectilinear. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, in which the parts of the stator have slides 26 formed thereon which are a apted to slide in dovetail grooves in the guides 25 supported by the frame 3.

In Fig. 6 I show yet another form of the ,inventioh in which the halves of the stator are carried by depending arms 8 journalled on the frame 2 at 36. These depending arms 8 have formed at their upper ends a rock arm 26 which engage each other with a pin-and-slot connection 21, thus the swinging of one of the depending arms 8 will also swing the other. An arm 28 is secured to one of the arms l3 by which this movement may be imparted to the arms 8 and then to the parts I of the stator. A spring I! connected to the arms 8 serves normally to maintain the parts of .the stator in co-operative relationship with the rotor as in the first construction described. The mode of operation will be substantially the same as in the form first described, though themovements of the two parts of the stator is more nearly rectilinear. Indeed, it is substantially so for all practical purposes.

In Fig. 7 I show another form of the invention in which the displacement of the stator is axial instead of radial. In this form the stator is in one piece and is carried by the plunger rods 8 which slide in the yokes 29 secured to the top frame 2. ment of the plunger rods 8 by engaging the ends of the yokes 29, thus defining the co-operative position of the rotor and stator. The plunger rods are normally held up with the stop collars 30 in engagement with the yokes 29 by means of the springs 11 which engage the yoke ends and the collars 3i on the plunger rods 8 The downward movement of the plunger rods 8 to effect the separation of the rotor and stator is effected by means of the cams 34 which engage the upper ends of the plunger rods 8 and 'are secured on the shaft 32 journalled in the bearings 33 on the top frame 2. A hand wheel 35 is secured on the shaft 32 by means of which the cam shaft may be operated when necessary to separate the 'rotor and stator to thus agitate the liquid in which the rotor and stator are immersed and to accumulate a fresh film of liquid between the two when they are brought to their co-operative position.

In all the forms described it will be noted that there is a relative movement of the rotor and stator by means of which the space between them may be widened and narrowed whenever desired. The movement of the one part relative tothe other serves to agitate the liquid in which the device is immersed while the separation of the two parts enables the fresh film of liquid tobe entrapped between'the opposed surfaces of the rotor and stator.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A viscosimeter comprising concentric rotor and stator members mounted with their adjacent surfaces normally slightly spaced a predetermined distance apart and shaped as surfaces of revolution; means for suspending the device with the concentric members immersed in the liquid in a vessel; and means for increasing the distance apart of the rotor and stator and then de-' creasing it to the normal predetermined distance apart while the device is in the liquid to agitate the liquid and admit fresh liquid to form a new film between the said members.

2. A viscosimeter comprising concentric rotor and stator members mounted with their adjacent surfaces normally slightly spaced a predetermined distance apart and shaped as surfaces of revolution. the stator member being formed in parts movable from and to their normal position to increase the spacing aforesaid and then decrease it to the normal predetermined distance apart while the device is in the liquid to agitate liquid in which the members are immersed and admit fresh liquid between s"id members.

3. A viscosimeter according to claim 2 in which the parts of the stator are each hinged on an Collars 30 limit the upward move-v axis parallel to the axis of the rotorto swing to and from'their normal operative position rela-' tive to said rotor. v I

4. Aiviscosimeter according to claim ,2' in which the parts of the stator are hinged on a common axis parallel to the axis of the rotor to swingto and from their-normal operative the parts of the stator are each' hinged on an -as surfaces of revolution, means for suspending,

position relative to said rotor.

5. 'A viscosiineter accordingto claim 2 in'which the'parts of the stator are rectilinearly and radially movable to and from their normal operative position relative to said rotor.

6. A viscosimeter according toclaim' 2 in which the parts of the statoriare eachhinged on an axis at right'angles to the axis of the rotor to swing to and from their normal operative position relative to said rotor. 3 v q 7. A viscosimeter according to claim 2 in which axis parallel to the axis of the rotor toswing to and from their normal operative position relative to said rotor and a spring is provided tending to move the parts to their normal position.

8. A 'viscosimeter comprising concentric rotor and stator members l-mounted with their. adjacent surfaces normally slightly spaced'and shaped the device with the concentric members immersed in the liquid in'a' vessel; and means for displacing and replacing the rotor and stator relativeto one another in an axial direction while the'device' is in the liquid to change the film of liquid between the said members.

9. A 'viscosimeter comprising a bottom frame; a top frame; connecting bars connecting the said frames; arotor shaft journalled on said frames; a rotor secured to'the said shaft; and" a stator formed in halves, each ioumalled at one end on .the device on an axis parallel to the axis of the rotor to swing to or away from a, normal position in. which it is in co-operative relationship with the rotor to'form a narrow space open at top and bottom. 5

10. A viscosimetercomprising a bottom frame;

a top frame; connecting. bars connecting the said frames; a rotor shaftjournalled on saidframes; a rotor secured to the. said shaft; a stator formed in halves, each iournall'ed at one end on the device on an axis parallel'tothe axisof. the rotor to swing to or away from a normal position in which it is in co-operativerelationship with the rotor to form a narrow space open V at top and bottdm; and a stop member on-the tion of the parts of the. stator.

, bottorhframe contactible by the free ends of the parts of the stator to define the normal posi 11.'A viscoslmeter according to claim in which the bearing "on'which the parts of the stator swing are located above the upper ends of the rotor and stator so that the latter may be immersed in liquid without immersing, the

bearings. r

'12. A yiscosimeter comprising a bottom frame:

a top frame; said frames;

' a top frame;

them totheir co-operative position.

a new film. between the said ,a top frame; connecting bars connecting the said frames; a rotor shaft iournalledon said frames; and a stator cylinder formed inhalves, each journalled at one end on one of the connecting bars to swing to oraway from a position in which it is in co-operative relationship with the rotor.

13. A viscosimeter comprising a bottom frame;

connecting, bars connecting the a rotorshaft journalled on said frames; and a stator cylinder formed in halves, each journalled at one end on one of the 'connecting bars adjacent the upper frame to swing to or away from a position in which it is in co-operative relationship with the rotor.

14. A viscosimeter'comprising a bottom frame; connecting bars connecting the said frames; a rotor shaft joumalled on said frames; and a stator cylinder formed in halves, each journalled at one end on one of the connecting" bars to swing to or away from aposition in which it is in rec-operative relationship with the rotor, the other co nnecting barforming 'a stop contactible by the free ends of the parts of the stator to define the normal position of thepartsof the stator.

15,. A viscosimeter comprising a bottom frame;

in which it is in cooperative relationship with the rotor, the other connecting bar forming a stop contactible by the free ends of the partsof the stator to define the normal position of y the parts .of the stator and a spring connected to the parts of therotor tending to move the parts to their normal position.

16. A viscosimeter comprising concentric rotor and stator members mounted with their adjacent surfaces normally slightly spaced and shaped as surfaces of revolution; means for suspending the device with the concentric members immersed in the liquid in a vessel; means-for displacing the rotor and statorjrelative'to one anotherin an axial direction to change the film of liquid between the said members; a stop limiting the movement of approach of the members;

and 'a spring engaging the members to'move 17. A viscosin'ieter comprising concentric rotor and'stator members-mounted with their adjacentsurfa'ces normally slightly spaced'a predetermined distance apart and shaped as surfaces of revolution; means for suspending the device with the conc'entric members immersed in the liquid in a vessel; and means forl displacing and replacing the rotor and .stator relative toone another while the device'is in the liquid to agi-- tate the' liquid and admit fresh liquid to form;

members. JA-lims N. GOODIER. 

